May 10, 2022
The City Council postponed for a second time until June 14, 2022, adoption of a new telecommunications ordinance with design guidelines in accord with the Wireless Telecommunications Facilities Locational Standards. At the previous April 12 council meeting it was decided to locate telecommunications equipment every 1000 feet. After more revision at the current meeting the preferred locations of equipment would be relegated to non-residential areas.
Debate resulted from concerns about California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) environmental impacts with the telecommunications ordinance. An out-of-town internet and communications lawyer consumed ten minutes of ceded public comment time and ten more minutes answering questions from Councilmember Lee Eng to argue about risks for disabled residents, fire hazards from the equipment, equipment noise, impact on wildlife habitat, energy use, and greenhouse emissions.
Lloyd Zola, the City’s lead telecommunications consultant, assured the Council that laws on environmental standards related to the Federal Telecommunications Act take into account protection for public health and the environment and supersede local government actions. The city can regulate aesthetics, such as location of equipment, but were criticized for wanting to locate equipment inaccessible to churches and schools.
Of interest, the City Council Legislative Subcommittee asked for a vote of agreement for a letter of support for AB 2164 (Lee), a bill that will revise the disability act and so provide more financial assistance to small businesses in Los Altos to deliver disability accessibility.
May 24, 2022
The City Council agreed to have the Environmental Commission and staff review the City’s Tree Protection Ordinance last updated in 2007. The ordinance provides regulations regarding the removal of trees within the City of Los Altos. A preliminary staff review indicated long outdated elements in the current ordinance. Revision would establish clear criteria for tree removal permits, clear replacement standards, updated fees, and tree maintenance.
The City Council directed staff to work with Alta Housing regarding the process proposed to establish a Below Market Rate (BMR) Waiting List for the City’s active BMR portfolio of 54 ownership units and 51 rental units. The City initially contracted with Alta Housing in 2018 and renewed the contract in 2021 to administer the City’s BMR program. In that contract, apartments and ownership housing was decided by a priority ranking list. To begin in 2023, Alta Housing has designed a preferable lottery process to establish a household’s place on an ownership waitlist, with priority for applicants certifying that they live or work in Los Altos. Once the list is established, it remains active for a year or more before being updated. This model saves time and money and gets families into affordable housing more quickly, and efficiently. Additionally, Council considered the establishment of a similar rental waiting list by Alta Housing for all BMR apartments in Los Altos. The Council asked that outreach be expanded to inform teachers and staff in all public and private schools as well as churches, fire and police departments.
The City Council directed staff to plan for hybrid meetings beginning in August 2022 after the summer meeting break. While the rate of vaccination for Santa Clara County is very high, the 7-day rolling average of new cases was significantly higher at the beginning of May 2022. Other surrounding cities including Cupertino, Los Altos Hills, and Palo Alto have implemented hybrid meetings.
The City Council received an update from the Legislative Subcommittee which supports the following bill that passed to the second house: AB 2164 (Lee) to fund Disability Access and Education for small businesses. The following bills passed to the second house but are opposed by the legislative subcommittee. AB 2097 (Friedman) will prohibit parking requirements on developments near public transit such as complexes currently being developed on El Camino Real. SB 897 (Wieckowski) will prohibit height limits on ADUs and other parking limits, provisions which would affect the many projects being built in Los Altos.
Claire Noonan, Observer